Last Modified: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 8:26 a.m.

Hood, 60, of Daytona Beach Shores, the Republican representative for Florida House District 25, was appointed by Scott to fill the vacancy that will be left when Circuit Judge David Beck retires Sept. 30. Beck announced his resignation earlier this year.

In his announcement Scott said Hood’s leadership and dedicated service to the families of his district and his experience as a lawyer will make Hood a great addition to the 7th Judicial Circuit bench.

“I am proud to appoint Dave Hood today with confidence that he will continue to his service to Florida with a keen sense of justice and compassion,” Scott said in a release made public by his office.

Hood said when Beck resigned it opened the position for several applicants. The 7th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission then cut the number of candidates to six, all of whom were interviewed by Scott.

Hood said all the candidates who applied for the position are “very qualified people” and that the governor had a difficult decision in selecting Beck’s replacement.

“I am, very honored to be one out of six,” Hood said Monday. “I consider myself fortunate that he chose me.”

Hood had also qualified as a candidate for the election to fill the seat left by retiring Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson. Hood and Michael Orfinger were competing for Hutcheson’s post. It is unclear what will happen in that judicial race now.

Hood is a partner with the law firm Smith, Hood, Loucks, Stout, Bigman & Brock.

Hood said he has practiced law for 36 years and has worked cases dealing with commercial litigation as well as family, criminal and general corporate law.

Hood was also the mayor of Ormond Beach from 1997 to 1999 and served as a city commissioner there from 1992 to 1997. He earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of South Carolina.

Those who have worked alongside Hood are confident he will do great work as a judge.

“As a senator and a practicing attorney, I personally know that Dave has the knowledge, dedication and temperament to serve well as a judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit,” said state Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange.

Last summer, Hood made it known that he had a brain tumor removed. He said he had battled brain cancer since 2007 and had undergone four years of chemotherapy.

In May, Hood lost his 26-year-old son in a drowning, an incident Ormond Beach police said was accidental. Randall Clay Hood was found floating face down in a pool at a Colonial Circle home.

Hood’s appointment to circuit judge gives him another way to serve the area, he said.

“It will never make up for the loss of my son but it gives me another opportunity to work harder for the community,” Hood said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the timing of Circuit Judge David Beck's resignation.

<p>State Rep. Dave Hood will replace a 7th Judicial Circuit judge who resigned earlier this year, Gov. Rick Scott's office announced Monday.</p><p>Hood, 60, of Daytona Beach Shores, the Republican representative for Florida House District 25, was appointed by Scott to fill the vacancy that will be left when Circuit Judge David Beck retires Sept. 30. Beck announced his resignation earlier this year. </p><p>In his announcement Scott said Hood's leadership and dedicated service to the families of his district and his experience as a lawyer will make Hood a great addition to the 7th Judicial Circuit bench.</p><p>“I am proud to appoint Dave Hood today with confidence that he will continue to his service to Florida with a keen sense of justice and compassion,” Scott said in a release made public by his office.</p><p>Hood said when Beck resigned it opened the position for several applicants. The 7th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission then cut the number of candidates to six, all of whom were interviewed by Scott.</p><p>Hood said all the candidates who applied for the position are “very qualified people” and that the governor had a difficult decision in selecting Beck's replacement.</p><p>“I am, very honored to be one out of six,” Hood said Monday. “I consider myself fortunate that he chose me.” </p><p>Hood had also qualified as a candidate for the election to fill the seat left by retiring Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson. Hood and Michael Orfinger were competing for Hutcheson's post. It is unclear what will happen in that judicial race now.</p><p>Hood is a partner with the law firm Smith, Hood, Loucks, Stout, Bigman &amp; Brock.</p><p>Hood said he has practiced law for 36 years and has worked cases dealing with commercial litigation as well as family, criminal and general corporate law.</p><p>Hood was also the mayor of Ormond Beach from 1997 to 1999 and served as a city commissioner there from 1992 to 1997. He earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of South Carolina.</p><p>Those who have worked alongside Hood are confident he will do great work as a judge.</p><p>“As a senator and a practicing attorney, I personally know that Dave has the knowledge, dedication and temperament to serve well as a judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit,” said state Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange.</p><p>Last summer, Hood made it known that he had a brain tumor removed. He said he had battled brain cancer since 2007 and had undergone four years of chemotherapy.</p><p>In May, Hood lost his 26-year-old son in a drowning, an incident Ormond Beach police said was accidental. Randall Clay Hood was found floating face down in a pool at a Colonial Circle home.</p><p>Hood's appointment to circuit judge gives him another way to serve the area, he said.</p><p>“It will never make up for the loss of my son but it gives me another opportunity to work harder for the community,” Hood said.</p><p>Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the timing of Circuit Judge David Beck's resignation.</p>